MCA is against street rallies

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA is against street rallies as it disrupts public security and safety, its party spokesman Ti Lian Ker said today.

Ti was commenting on the Himpunan RUU355 rally organised by PAS to garner support for amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 and the counter-rally by a group calling itself Bebas on February 18.

Ti told FMT street rallies should not be allowed as it might lead to confrontations.

“If the rally is going to disrupt public security and safety then it should not be allowed. It doesn’t matter who is organising the rally, it will not resolve any issues.”

Bebas plans to organise a peaceful rally at Padang Merbok, Kuala Lumpur, to express its strong objection to the amendments, which were tabled by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang as a Private Members Bill last year.

Ti said Malaysians are jaded because the rallies organised are not impactful.

“Those organising rallies should instead express their concerns through the parliamentary process or the ballot box instead of taking it to the streets.”

Ti had earlier warned that the rally planned by PAS in support of wider powers for shariah courts would increase racial tension.

He said the rally could turn into a religiously charged gathering aimed at those who oppose the private member’s bill.

Ti said MCA respected Islam but would oppose laws it said were in violation of the Federal Constitution.

Earlier, MCA president Liow Tiong Lai said that MCA would not participate in any counter-rally to Himpunan 355.

“We have our own channels in expressing ourselves. MCA is always for moderate policies and promoting a multiracial society.”

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man had earlier said the party would hold a rally on Feb 18 at Dataran Merdeka, with the aim of gathering 300,000 people, in what will be a show of strength over its plan to amend the law and increase the powers of shariah courts.